Self-arighting signal post



Nov. 5, 1929. J, RANK ET AL 1,734,344.

SELF ARIGHTING SIGNAL POST Filed Sept. l5.. 1927 FJIZ Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UiSiiTi-:nl STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN RANK AND HENRY w', BANK, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA SELF-ARIGHTING SIGNAL IPOS'Ik Application filed September 15, 1927. y Serial No. 219,634.

Our present invention relates to traffic signals of the self-aiighting signal ypost type and especially to that type of signal post disclosed and broadly claimed in our prior application Ser. No.y 541,240 tiled September 3, 1925. The present invention, while einbodying the broad features of said prior application, involves other and improved features which simplify the construction of the post`r increase its ability to withstand Violent shocks and give the post a neater or better appearance.

In the accompanying drawings, which illusti'ate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the improved signal post in elevation;

' Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section taken cn the line 2 2 of'Fig. 1; f

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on th line 3-3 of Fig. l; K,

F ig. 4 'is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. is an elevation showing the lamp cage 'removed from the signalfpost.

The invention is capable of modification but in the preferred forni illustrated in the drawings the body of the signal post is formed by a heavy elastic tube or casing` 6.

This tubular casing is made of rubber, preferablv reinforced with fabric much like the outer casing of a pneumatietire, and ig of such stiffness that it will maintain itseli normally in a straight upright form. A s

preferably constructed, the interior of thisk tubular casing is cylindrical, while the enter surface thereof is slightly increased in thickness toward its lower end. At its lower end,

the tubular casing is anchored to the road bed or pavement y, and advisablythis is accomplished by a highly efficient form of anchoring device illustrated in the drawings, and which anchor comprises an anchoring cylinder 7 and an annular anchoring ring 8.

The cylinder 7 has outturned flanges preferably at it outer ends,y and Said cylinder is embeddedsolidly in the concrete body of the road bed. The anchoring ring 8 has a downturned annular flange into which the lower end of the elastic tubular casing 6y is telescoped and rigidly secured by nut-equipped bolts 9 passed through the downturned flange of said ring, through the lower end of said casing and, as shown, also through metallic inner clips 10. The said parts 7, 8 and 10 will preferably be iron orsteel. The outturned end of the anchoring ring 8 is detachably secured to the outturned upper flange of the cylindrical or tubular anchor 7 by suitable devices such as machine screws 11.' f i i The upper portion of the elastic tubular casing 6 is stilfcned and reinforced by a thin but very strong metallic lining 12 to which the rubber inner surface of said casing is permanently and very securely united by viilc nization. The lower end of the metallic reinforcing lining l2 terminates far enough above the road bei to give the lower flexible portion of the tubular casing sufficient-,flexibility and elasticity to permit the post tor be turned down into a horizontal position against the rroad bed. This post is, of course. self-arighting; that is,l the resiliency and elasticity in the lower part of the tubular body 6 is such that the post will be quickly thrown back to its upright position wlienever it is released and will maintain its upright position unless struck by an automobile, truck or the like.

in its upper portion, a considerable distance above the lower end of the metallic lining 12, the post is provided with a plurality of light passages arranged for signalling purposes, and these light passages open through the metallic lining 12 and through the body of the casing. The number of these light passages may be varied but as shown the post is provided with four circumferentially spaced light passages 13, with four circumferentially rspaced light passages 14, with f four circuinfcientially spaced light passages 15, and with four circumferentially spaced light passages 16. These light passages may be closed by transparent sheets or panes 17 preferably rectangular pieces of celliiloid that are spriing into engagement with Sheets formed in the Opposite edges of the respective light passages so that the said trans- Gil parent sheets are made readily removable and replaceable. Y

The upper portion of the signal post is equipped with electriclight bulbs, the wires ot' which may be readily brought into the lamps through the tubular post and anchoring base. As an important feature of this invention, the electric bulbs 1S are directly applied to sockets 19 mounted on a skeleton cage 20 that loosely lits within and is readily removable from the upper portion oi the tubular metallic lining 12. rlhis lamp cage 2O has large openings in line with the light passages of the post so that projection roi light for signallingV purposes is not intererred with. To the upper end of the cage 2O is rigidly secured a metallic head 21 that forms a cap to the post, which cap is pret"- erably but slightly exposed above the stiened upper body portion of the elastic casing. shown, this head or cap 21 is rigidly bin detachably anchored to the upper end or" the post by means of screws 22 passed through the upper end portions of the casing 6 and lining 12 and screwed into the sides ot' said cap, as best shown in Fig. 2. lVith this construction, as is evident, when the screws 22 are removed, the cap 21 with the skeleton cage may be freely withdrawn from the post or freely inserted into the post. rlhis makes both assembling and repairs of the post an easy matter for all the lamps Yand soclrets may be readily assembled on the cage while the cage is outside of the post. The lower end of the cage 2O preferably terminates lar above the lower end of the reinforcing or post-stiiening lining 12. Said lining` l2 stiens all of that portion above the necessary flexible lower portion of the post which makes the upper portion of the post very strong and rigid while the elastic outer portion 6 of the post allords a cushion which minimizes the eliect of jars due to contacts with the post. This post, has been found in practice, will withstand the very severe produced by automobiles or trucks running over the post at comparatively. high speed. Not only isfthe initial shoelr ot the post minimized but all ot the subsequent impacts produced by theV car running over the post are cushioned and reduced to a minimum. ln practice, the rubber body of the tubular post will usuallly be reinforced with iabric but in some instances this i iforcement may be omitted, and this is tra especially in respect tothe reinforced upper portion of the rubberbody.

With the large number of light openinffs 13, 14, 15 and 16 illustrated in the drawings it may be assumed that the transparent panes 17 of said openings are respectively colored green, red, orange and white to indicate,v respectively, go, stop, tratlic change and caution. The light openings 16 afford what is usually designated as a pilot light which will be used when the other and usually automatically controlled signals are out of action.

lt is important to note that the metallic lining 12 not only reinforces the upper portion or' the integral resilient tubular body but that the head or cap 21 is directly anchored to the upper portion ot this metallic lining, thereby indirectly anchoring the lamp cage to the said lining, which latter is eX- tended well down into the lower body portion of the resilient tubular body.

From what has been said it will be understood tiat the invention above described in det-ail is capable oi various modifications within the scope of the claims hereof.

Tvl/*hat we claim is:

1. signal post comprising an anchoring base, a resilient integral tubular body anchored to said base at its lower end, a tubular metallic lining telescopod into the upper portion ot said resilient tubular body butk terminating above said base so as to permit the post to be turned into an approximately horizontal position. and a lamp-equipped cage telescoped within and detachably secured to said resilient tubular body and its metallic lining, said resilient tubular body, its lining and said cage having light-emitting passages for sien al purposes.

2. .The structure delined in claim 1 in which said metallic lining is vulcanized to the interior of said resilient tubular body so that said lining constitutes a permanent part of said tubular body.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said metallic lining is extended to a point substantially midway between the lower portion 'l' said cage and said anchoring base permitting said tubular body to bend only at its lower portion.

4. gli signal post comprising an anchoring base, a resilient integral tubular body anchored to said base at its lower end, a tubular metallic lining Vtelescoped into the upper portion of said resilient tubular body but terminating above said base so as to permit the post to be turned into an approximately horizontal position, lamp-equipped cage teleseoped within and detachably secured to Y said resilienttubular body and its metallic linn g, said resilient tubular body, its lining' and said cage having light-emitting passages for signal purposes, and a head rigidly secured to the ripper end ot sai'il cage and having` a portion teleseoped onto the upper end ot said metallic lining and detachably but rigidly secured to the upper portion o'l said resilient tubular body and its metallic lining.

ln testimony whereof we afn; our

tures.

JOHN RANK. HENRY lV. RANK.

signalid 

